we are full of hope that complete recovery is near. >> reporter: about 80% of the entire railway is now running again. disaster survivors see it as another sign that life in this region is returning to normal. the operator expects to resume full service by next april. nhk world, japan. >>> thousands of people waiting to go home. tons of debris waiting for disposal. vast tracts of land waiting to be restored. overcoming the challenges of japan's 2011 disaster won't be easy, but step by step, people are moving forward. find out how on "the road ahead" every wednesday at 1:00 p.m. japan time right here on "newsline." >>> the united nations general assembly has approved the first international treaty on conventional arms. 154 delegates voted in favor, including the u.s., the world's biggest exporters of arms. representatives of three countries voted against those from north korea, syria an iran. delegates from russia and china were among the 23 who abstained. the treaty controls the trade of tanks, missiles, guns and other conventional weapons. it bans transfers of weapons if they violate a